How Can Anyone Afford to Live in This City??? (Atlanta: health insurance, income)

[RoslynHolcomb]

I think I said before that I never wanted to live in Atlanta. I've always seen it as the most expensive place in Christendom. But somehow I got the impression that at least the salaries kept up with the cost of living. I'm quickly discovering that this is a major misnomer.

We're having to cancel our family insurance coverage because it costs roughly 1/4 of my husband's salary!!! Around here, family coverage for one child is usually double the single person's coverage--NOT EIGHT TIMES AS MUCH!!! WTF???!!! So now I have a three-year-old with no health insurance coverage. I can't imagine anything more frightening. That's what terrified me about my husband losing his job in the first place.

Most of the jobs I've applied for thus far pay substantially less than I was paid when I worked before, and I had better benefits. Plus, I'll probably have to fork over money for daycare or pre-school, all of which is crazy expensive as well. I just don't see anything in our future but bankruptcy. Which is the reason I didn't want to move there in the first place. All of my friends who moved to Atlanta in the 90s left a decade later because of the outrageous cost of living. It's just depressing as hell that my husband couldn't find a job elsewhere.

I know I'm exhausted and hysterical, but honest to God if we hadn't already signed the contracts I'd so not be making this move.

[CMMom]

I have no idea what your income level is, but there is a program in Georgia called "PeachCare for Kids." It is basically a low-cost health insurance program for families who fall in between the Medicaid/low-income level and private health care. I can't tell you exactly the eligibility requirements, but I believe that, for a family of four, you can qualify if your income level is up to about $48,000 or so.

You do have to pay premiums, but it's minimal (no more than $60/month, I think). There is no deductible or co-pay.

I have heard some discussions of adults qualifying for this program as well, but don't know the eligibility requirements for that.

Try Googling "PeachCare for Kids GA" and you will see the link. It might be useful to cover your kids until you can find a job yourself.

Keep your chin up-I know this is not easy!

[lolamom]

I am not sure if you were looking for advice or just wanting to vent, but wanted to send you a cyber hug...... You sound like you have a ton of stress on your plate right now and understandably so. I am not sure about the particulars of your situation but did want to say that moving and changing jobs is always an extremely stressful process. Add to it money issues, and it's the perfect storm.

Take a deep breath and try and try and refocus. One thing that may help is to write some stuff down. You guys decided to move for a reason--is that reason still valid?Write down what is most important for you and your DP and include your goals for the future and how this move is taking you there. Remember too that areas have different things to offer...for example, that PeachCare for Kids program mentioned above is something specific to here. Perhaps there are other things you are overlooking simply because not being from here, you don't know where to look.

I will keep you all in my prayers and hope you guys find what you need to keep you afloat. This is a difficult time for many Americans....

Lola

[RainyRainyDay]

Roslyn - best wishes for your stressful times to end soon. The Atlanta cost of living is not all bad news - housing at least is cheaper than in many other big cities.

CMMom's PeachCare suggestion sounds like a hopeful lead, maybe?

[RoslynHolcomb]

Thanks everyone. I was both venting AND looking for advice. CMMom, from what I can tell we might just come in under the wire for Peachcare. My mother-in-law keeps reminding me that right now we're at the low end of my husband's earning potential and it'll go up from here. If we focus and keep costs as low as possible (my speciality), everything should be okay. But I'm absolutely terrified of this move. I know we really had no choice. His line of work requires a big city. It was just a fluke that we were able to stay here this long, but when he told me about the insurance it was literally the last straw.

[CMMom]

I know! Health insurance is one of the biggest rip-offs known to mankind, as far as I'm concerned. My husband and I are both self-employed, so we have a no-frills policy (no maternity, no mental health, etc...) with a $3000 deductible per person per year and a $40 co-pay for routine office visits. Barring a major accident or cancer treatment (God forbid), we are on our own as far as paying for medical treatment goes. To add insult to injury, the premium went up 40% this year. It is incredibly infuriating, but you just don't feel right about leaving a child (especially) uninsured. Something's got to change; I only wish I had the answers.

I know you're freaking out, and I don't blame you one bit. This is a tough time, and I would hate to be uprooted from everything at such a tough time. Lots of luck to you and cyber-hugs!

[Jomaark]

Maybe your husband can speak to his boss or hr and see if a salary adjustment upward to help with the insurance. Maybe they can help you with some outplacement to help you find work. You might also consider part time at Starbucks or some of the other companies that escape me right now which pay benefits til you land something else.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by CMMom

I know! Health insurance is one of the biggest rip-offs known to mankind, as far as I'm concerned. My husband and I are both self-employed, so we have a no-frills policy (no maternity, no mental health, etc...) with a $3000 deductible per person per year and a $40 co-pay for routine office visits. Barring a major accident or cancer treatment (God forbid), we are on our own as far as paying for medical treatment goes. To add insult to injury, the premium went up 40% this year. It is incredibly infuriating, but you just don't feel right about leaving a child (especially) uninsured. Something's got to change; I only wish I had the answers.

Up north of us in my homeland, Canada, life expectancy is higher and infant mortality lower than in the US. When you visit the doctor and learn that you need some tests, and to see a specialist, you worry about your health, and whether to prefer Dr. X or Dr. Y, but you never think about the cost. There are no copays, deductibles, exclusions or lifetime limits. It's all free.

Of course, Canadian medical care is not really free. Canadians prefer to have a single-payer insurance system, funded through taxes, that covers everyone. It's not perfect, but it's pretty darned great compared to what we have here.

By the way, a working Canadian woman who has a baby gets a year of maternity leave. Europeans get even more generous benefits. This probably seems like a shocking thing to say (or type), but by the standards of other western countries, the US is just not a family-friendly society. Business comes first here, not families.

Anyway, this is a diversion from Roslyn's problems. We're rooting and praying for you, Roslyn!

[George Chong]

Hang in there girl!

You have an entire virtual community keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. I guess virtual good wishes are just as powerful!

[plessthanpointohfive]

Psst...RRDay, I'm with you!